EU gearing up to impose visa ban, freeze asset on Lukashenko

European Union foreign ministers have decided to impose an asset freeze and a visa ban on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and 160 of his aides.

Following December's disputed elections, Lukashenko continued to stay in power after the vote was being held. The EU will sanction all Lukashenko's allies who were involved in repression. More than 600 people, including seven rival candidates, were arrested in the post-presidential election protests.

International monitors claimed rigging of votes in the elections.

The EU first imposed sanctions on the Belarusian leader five years ago but suspended his travel ban in 2008 to encourage him to bring reforms.